What Being a Virtual Assistant Really Means

When you started looking for a way to work from home and heard about being a Virtual Assistant, I bet you thought it sounded ideal. You'd set your own hours, decide how much money you want to make, and do work you’re good at—and love.

But if you’re like me and had a successful career doing something else—in corporate or another field—you might be worried about what people will think. You might even be asking yourself, “How can I go from [fill in the blank] to being someone’s assistant?”

I had that voice in my head 14 years ago when I decided to become a VA, as well as the voices of my friends and family who thought I’d lost my mind.

• “You have so many skills; why would you settle for being someone’s assistant?”
• “You’ll never be able to make ‘real’ money doing that.”
• “You already had one failed business; isn’t it time to get a job?”

They tried to convince me that I would be better off in a traditional 9-5 setting with a steady paycheck and benefits. To them, it seemed like I was taking a step back instead of forward.

But deep down, I knew working for someone else wouldn’t allow me to have the lifestyle I wanted—the freedom to plan my days, be home with Emily after school, and take care of her when she was sick … all without a boss's permission.

At age 50, when I began my VA journey, I’d reached a point where I was done asking for permission.

So I leaped and stopped talking about it with the doubters. I stopped comparing myself to people who’d chosen to climb the corporate ladder. I forged my own path.

I quickly realized that being a Virtual Assistant isn’t “just being someone’s assistant.” It’s so much more. It’s about being a business owner, a problem-solver, and a trusted partner. It’s about leveraging my unique skills and experiences while working with my clients. And it’s the smartest, most direct path to making a consistent living—often earning more than I did in my previous career.

Over the years, I’ve built a thriving business, fulfilling relationships with amazing clients, and a life I love. I enjoy time flexibility, choosing who I work with, and deciding how much I’ll make. I’ve proven to myself what I knew deep down when I started: this path isn’t a step backward; it’s a leap forward.

If you’re feeling that same pull toward being a Virtual Assistant but worry about what others might think, let me tell you this: You don’t need anyone’s approval to create the life you want. The skills, experience, and drive you bring are more than enough to build a successful VA business.

Trust yourself. Tune out the noise. Take the leap.